Water-closet reservoir



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. S. COOPER. WATER GLosET RESERVOIR.

Patented Jan. 27,1891.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. S. COOPER. WATER GLOSBT' RESERVOIR.

Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

(No Model.)

' Ffa. 4.

f m1011201' f lllNrrEn STATES IVILLIAM S. COOPER, OF PHI ATENE EErcE.

LADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-CLOSET RESERllOlR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,424, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed December 20, 188

To all whom it may concern):

Be it known that I, VILLIAM S. COOPER., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Water-Closet Reservoirs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain details in the construction of a water-closet reservoir, as fully described hereinafter, with the view of preventing the roaring noise due to the flow of water down the overflow-pipe, readily setting the operating-leverto permit the most convenient disposal of the pull rod or chain, and preventing clogging of the regulating de- Vice or the admission of air to the plungerchamber of the same.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a water-closet tank with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the outlet-valve, the regulating device therefor, and the parts adjacent thereto. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the iioat for closing the upper end of the overflow-tubdand of parts ot' the guide-tube for said Iioat.

A represents the casing ot' the tank, which may be of wood lined with sheet metal, or may be wholly of metal, if desired, the former conu struction being shown in the present instance. The bottom of the tank is provided with a regulating-box B, the upper flange of which, within the tank, forms a seat for a valve which governs the dow of water from the tank, this valve being inthe present-instance formed at the lower end of the overtlowtube D, and consisting of a suitable gasket d, conined to the lower end of said overtlow-tube by the flange a of an internal ring h. In the overiiow tube, some distance below the upperend of the same, is a bridge c, having a projecting rod c', terminating at its upper end in a yoke, which is adapted to an eye at the lower end of the lifting-rod d, th'e latter being guided in a sleeve d', which has at its lower end a flange d2, bearing against a spider F. The outer ends of the arms of this spider engage with an internal liange e on a ring E, forming part of the transverse frame E', which bridges the tank and is secured to the opposite sides of the same, as shown in Fig. 2, this frame having openings e', to either of which may be l adapted the casing of the supply-valve.

8. SerialNo.294,l44. (No model.)

The sleeve d is threadedexternally, and to the upper end of said sleeve d is adapted a nut cl3, which bears upon a cross-bar G, the outer ends of which rest upon the top of the ring E, a lug g on the cross-bar being adapted to engage with notches g on the top of the ring,

4so as to secure said bar G in any position to which it may be adjusted.

To a stud g2 on the bar G is hung the operating-lever I'I, which passes through. a slot in the upper end of the liftingrod d and has a short arm carrying a suitable counterbalanceweighth. Freni one side of the bar G projects upward a standard G the upper end of which forms a nut t" for the reception of a screw-stem t', the lower end of which carries a rubber or other elastic buffer t2, against which the upper end of the rod d strikes when the lever I-I is operated `so as to liftsaid rod and the tube D and its valve in order to permit the flow of water from the tank to the closet. Y

It will be evident that by the simple adjustment of the screw-stein t' the amount of lift of the rod d, and consequently of the valve controlling the tlow of water from the tank can be regulated to a nicety and the volume of water discharged from the tank into the bowl of the closet on each operation of the valve thereby accurately controlled, it being understood that the descent of the valve, atter it has been raised, is automatically retarded, as hereinafter described.

The use of the ring E in connection with the cross-bar G and the means of securing the saine to said ring which I have devised permits such latitude in the circumferential adjustment of said cross-bar that the depending pull-rod or chain of the lever H may occupy any position in respect to the tank, which simple slackening and tightening of one nut being all that is necessary in order to effect any change in the position of the bar and of the operating-lever carried thereby.

In order to prevent the roaring sound caused by the drawing in of air through the overiiowtube D when the valve is open and water is [iowing through the discharge-box E, I use a float-cup I, resting upon the top of the overflow-tube, as in my former patent, No. 373,015,

may be found most convenient in use, the

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dated November S, 1837, the opening in this cup being` of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the rod c', so as to permit a iiow of air through the opening and prevent the formation of a partial vacuum within the overflow-tube, as set forth in said patent. It. is advisable, however, to provide for a freer inlet of air to the overliow-tube when the water overflows the upper end of the tube and the float-cup is lifted by the water. For this reason I recess the upper portion of the guiderod c', so that as the float-cup is lifted on said rod the area of the opening for the inllow of air to the tub'el is increased. In the drawings I have shown opposite recesses cgfor this purpose, but it will be evident that other means of recessing the rod may be adopted. In order, moreover, to prevent any whistling noise which might be caused by the flow of air between the rod c' and the opening in the Heat-cup, I propose to trap the outlet at the lower end of the overflow tube, said tube having for this purpose an internal upwardlyprojecting tube lt, the mouth of which may be closed either by a bell 7s', Fig. 3, forming a water seal at the bottom of the overflow tube, so that while there is no obstacle to the free flow of water through the overflow tube the rapid sucking of air through the same is prevented.

The discharge-box B of the tank has the usual internal cup K for the reception of the plunger K', having the sliding packing-ring m, screen on', and top outlet m2, so that as the plunger is lifted water will pass down around the ring nt and into the lower portion of the cup, but. when the plunger descends the packing-ring will be forced against the upper inclined flange of the plunger, and thence outward against the sides of the cup, andthe water will be prevented from escaping from the lower portion of the cup excepting through the contracted outlet m2 in the top of theplunger, as set forth in my patent, No. 371,431, dated October 11, 1887. It has been found, however, that when the plunger is suddenly raised air is likely to be drawn into the space beneath the plunger through the opening m2, so that when the plunger is fully elevated the space beneath the same is not entirely filled with water, and if the plunger is immediately released there will be a sudden drop of the plunger until it comes into contact with the water beneath. I therefore provide the outlet-opening m2 in the top ot'` the plungerl with a pipe p, the upper end of which is coiled so as to form a water-sealed trap, which prevents the entrance of air through the opening m2 to the space beneath the plunger as said plunger is being elevated. This water-trap, moreover, serves to prevent access to the openingm2 orscreen m of chips or other tloatingparticles or impurities which might have a tendency to clog said opening or screen, and thus interfere with the proper working of the device.

It will be evident that in carryin g out my invention the coiled form of trap shown need not necessarily be employed, as the usual form of S-trap would answer the purpose; but the coil is preferred, as providing a more effective seal.

Many forms of device for regulating the descent of the valve may be used. For instance, in Fig. 1 I have shown by dotted lines a modified form of regulating device for the purpose, a depending extension G2 of the cross-bar Gin this case having within the tank a cylinder M, to which is adapted a plunger I), hung to the operating-lever I-I, and having in the bottom an upwardly-opening valve s, while in the top of the cylinder M is a regulating-screwt. On the depression of the plunger the valve s opens and the cylinder M fills with water, which is driven outfrom the regulated opening at the top of the cylinder on the rise of the plunger. In this case the regulator fi, for controlling the extent of lift ofthe disch arge-valve ot' the tank, is applied directly to the cross-bar G and acts directly on the lever Il.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the tank and its top frame having a ring with a cross-bar carrying the valve-operating lever and adjustable circumferentially on said ring around the axis of the valve-rod, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the tank and its cross-frame having a iianged ring, the crossbar carrying the valve-operating lever, the valve-lifting rod, the guiding-sleeve therefor, a spider engaging with the flange of the ring, and means for securing the cross-bar and spider to the guide-sleeve of the lifting-rod, all substantially as specilied.

3. The combination of the overflow-tube and the iloat-cup closing the upper end of the same with the guide-rod recessed to increase the area of air-inlet as the float-cup rises, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the discharge-box of the tank and its internal cup, the valve having a plunger adapted to said cup, and having a contracted outlet for the escape of water from beneath the plunger, and a trapped pipe forming a continuation of said outlet, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the discharge-box and its internal cup, the valve having a plunger adapted to said cup, and having a contracted outlet for the passage of water from beneath the plunger, and a pipe forming a continuation of said outlet and having its upper portion coiled to form a water-trap, all substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM S. COOPER. lVitnesses:

WILLIAM D. CONNER, ILsRRY SMITH.

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